On the Revelations of Sexual Abuse by Cesar Chavez
Statement from Patti Giggans, POV’s Executive Director/CEO
The most recent revelations of sexual violence and abuse of power by Cesar Chavez are deeply troubling and underscore that harm can exist even within spaces and movements we respect. They are a stark reminder that no individual or institution is beyond accountability — and that silence allows harm to continue.
At Peace Over Violence, we believe survivors. For more than 55 years, POV has served the multicultural Los Angeles community with a commitment to safety, healing, and justice. We honor the courage it takes to come forward — at any time. Survivors deserve to be believed and respected whenever they choose to share their story.
Reports that some victims were preteens and teenagers, and that many were silenced or unable to safely come forward for decades, are especially painful. The recent disclosures, including those shared by Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, send shockwaves through the farmworker movement and broader social justice communities.
There is much to confront and learn from these revelations. As conversations continue and accountability unfolds, Peace Over Violence — alongside our colleagues in the gender-based violence movement — remains steadfast in our commitment to survivors and their truths.
These revelations also point to the deeper, ongoing realities of male supremacy and the misuse of power that continue to harm women and girls across generations and cultures. While these systems can feel deeply entrenched — even intractable — they are not unchangeable. Each of us has a role to play in dismantling them.
We call on everyone to be upstanders: speak out, interrupt harmful behavior, hold one another accountable, and challenge systems that allow abuse to persist — actively building a culture of respect and consent.
To Dolores Huerta — an enduring leader in the fight for justice — we thank you for your courage and lifelong commitment to women and girls. We stand beside you.
If you or someone you know needs support, POV’s confidential hotline is available 24/7 in English, Spanish, and ASL, and our trauma-informed services are here for you.
Together, we can create safer and more just communities free from violence.
Patti Giggans, Executive Director/CEO
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month; join us for our 27th annual Denim Day on Wednesday, April 29th. denimday.org
LOS ANGELES RAPE & BATTERING HOTLINES
213.626.3393 (Central Los Angeles)
310.392.8381 (South Los Angeles)
626.793.3385 (West San Gabriel Valley)
NATIONAL EMERGENCY HOTLINES
Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN)
800.656.HOPE (4673)